Miniature rose plant

ABSTRACT

The subject of the present disclosure is a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant, named `Think Pink`, which is characterized by its blooms of Carmine Rose Pink with softer shades of Carmine Rose on the outer petals and a fragrance similar to `fresh apples`.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of a hardy,dwarf, bush plant of the miniature class; the variety being primarilycharacterized as a medium pink.

The variety is further characterized by:

Long stemmed blooms, borne singly or in sprays of 3 to 5 or more, heldvery erect and well above the foliage.

Has a fragrance very much like `fresh apples`.

The plant ranges in height from 12 to 18 inches. The canes are sturdyand erect, heavily branched with medium foliage covering. The plant is amoderate to heavy bloomer that does well either outdoors or in the greenhouse.

The plant has good growth habits, well shaped and attractive inappearance, bearing numerous leaflets of average size.

The seed parent was Electron (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,226), and the pollenparent was Little Chief (Miniature Rose Plant, deep pink; R. S. Moore;introduced by Sequoia Nursery, 1971).

Subsequent to the origination of the variety, I have successfullyreproduced it at TINY PETALS NURSERY located at aforesaid retaining thedistinguishing characteristics through succeeding propagations bycuttings.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to roses grown and colorvalues observed in plants and newly opened blooms in the months of Julyand August. The plants were grown outdoors in Chula Vista, Calif., andare believed to be accurate standards for this same cultivar in similarconditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

The color photograph illustrates the variety.

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant named `Think Pink`, the following is a detailed descriptionthereof in outline; all major color plate identifications being byreference to The British Colour Council Horticultural Colour Chart,except where common terms of color definition are employed.

Type: Hardy, dwarf, bushy, green house or outdoor, exhibition quality orgarden decorative potted plant.

Class: Miniature.

Variety name: Think Pink

Flowers borne: One to a stem or in sprays of 3 to 5 or more on erectstems with foliage well below the blooms.

Quantity of bloom: Moderate to heavy both outdoors and green housegrown.

Bud:

Peduncle.--Medium to long (averaging 25 to 35 mm); average diameter andsturdy; near Lettuce Green (861/1 to 861/2 page 176) with light tooccasionally heavy tinting of bronze.

Hairs.--Extremely small and sparse, with none at all on the calyx tubeor sepals.

Calyx.--Color is near Lettuce Green (861/1 to 861/2 page 176).

Opening.--Opens well in all weather.

Bloom:

Size when fully open.--Average for a miniature variety (35 to 40 mm).

Petalage.--Double -- Averaging about 25 to 30 petals, arranged regularlyplus petaloids (6 to 10 or more).

Form.--Urn-shaped to ovoid as the bloom progresses. The petals remain atfirst somewhat tightly cupped with the tips and/or margins reflexedoutward, becoming at maturity more loosely cupped. Even at the fullyopened stage, the petals show little or no rolling under of the margins.

Petals: Fairly thick with good substance with a sheen to the uppersurfaces and a matte finish on the under surfaces.

Shape.--Outer petals are a very broad obovate form with a slight peak atthe apex. The intermediate and inner petals are also obovate shaped, butmuch narrower; some may even be called broad lanceolate in form. Thepetaloids are like small lances.

Color: Newly opened flowers from plants grown outdoors (July and August1983), Chula Vista, Calif.:

Outside petals.--Upper surface -- Near Carmine Rose (621/3 to 621/2 page75) with a small area at the base of near Mimosa Yellow (602/1 to 602/2page 143).

Under surface.--The same as the upper surface.

Intermediate petals.--Upper surface -- Near Carmine Rose (621/2 to 621/1page 75) with a small area at the base of near Mimosa Yellow (602/1 to602/2 page 143).

Under surface.--The same as the upper surface.

Inner petals.--Upper surface -- Near Carmine Rose (621/2 to 621/1 page75) with a small area at the base of near Mimosa Yellow (602 to 602/1page 143).

Under surface.--The same as the upper surface.

General color effect.--Newly opened flowers -- Rich Carmine Rose withlighter tones on the outer petals. Three days open -- slight paling ofthe inner petals, giving the appearance of one color (Medium CarmineRose 621/2 page 75) to the entire bloom. Spent petals drop of cleanly.

Flower longevity.--(August 1983) Plant in pot 4 to 7 days from bud withsepal down to fully opened bloom. Holding at fully open with only slightfading of the inner petals for an additional 3 to 4 days before bloombegins to drop petals. Cut blooms at livingroom temperature 4 to 5 daysor longer. No sign of petal margins rolling under as the bloom ages,giving the fully opened flower an very circular symmetry when viewedfrom the top with a bright red pistil eye.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--A generous amount arranged uniformly around the pistil.

Filaments.--Varying in length; bright yellow.

Pollen.--Abundant.

Pistil.--Short, abundant and compact; deep red.

Styles.--Short; deep red.

Ovaries.--All encased in calyx.

Hips.--Some.

Seed.--Few or none.

Sepals.--Permanent; spear-shaped; open as the bloom opens, but does notrecurve against the peduncle.

Foliage:

Leaves.--Five to seven leaflets on the average; medium size for aminiature rose plant.

Leaflets.--Broad ovate-shaped.

Margin.--Very serrated with occasional tinting of bronze.

Color.--Ranging from near Lettuce Green (861/1 to 861 page 176) to nearScheeles Green (860/2 through 860 page 175) with occasional bronzing ofthe margins. The upper surfaces have a satiny finish, and the undersurfaces have a matte finish of a slightly lighter shade than the uppersurfaces.

Rachis.--Medium strength; upper surface is grooved with very small hairsover the length of it. Under surface also contains many very small hairsand some small hooked thorns as well.

Stipules.--Varying in length from short to medium; average width;tapering auricles angled outward at about 45 degrees.

Growth:

Habit.--Dwarf, bushy, much branched; average height for a miniature roseplant.

Growth.--Moderate.

Canes.--Medium; sturdy; held very erect.

Main stems.--Color -- Ranging from near Lettuce Green (861/1 to 861 page176) to near Scheeles Green (860/2 through 860 page 175) with little orno bronzing.

Thorns.--Numerous; averaging 35 to 45 per 10 cm on the main stems andbranches. Pale yellow or reddish in color with occasional bronzing.Ranging in size from small thorns to large and small prickles. May bestraight (most typical on main stems or branches) or slightly hookeddownward (most typical on the underside of rachis).

Branches.--Color -- Same as main stems.

The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary inslight detail due to climatic, soil and cultural conditions under whichthe variety may be grown; the present description being of the varietyas grown at Chula Vista, Calif.

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant named `Think Pink` of hardy, dwarf, bush, much branched habit, substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by its blooms of Carmine Rose Pink with softer shades of Carmine Rose on the outer petals and a fragrance of `fresh apples`, easy to propagate from cuttings, with flowers usually borne singly or in sprays of 3 to 5 or more. 